As society’s use of technology continues to increase, and as technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, digital health is here to stay. The pharmacy becomes a one-stop shop because pharmacists have access to medication and lab results, and they can counsel patients and collaborate with patients’ providers to optimize their medications. Excessive prescriptions for certain drugs can be identified and flagged by the system, alerting a pharmacy to at-risk customers. I Like to Work Directly with Patients. The implementation of data analytics has helped the government and healthcare industry identify the misuse of opiate pain killers, especially where one prescriber may seem to be operating a pill mill. Several types of robotic, computer-controlled devices for measuring drug doses for customers have come to market at the time of publication. With technology changing current medical thought and practices, it is critical for pharmacists to embrace the use of technology to expand pharmacy services and grow beyond traditional roles. To some degree, pharmacists are interested in information technology because we can envision it increasing efficiency in our daily tasks and improving our access to vital information. Take a look and see just what new pharmacy technology there is. This serves as a method for verifying the technician's count was accurate. By automatically filling prescriptions, pharmacists have more time to spend in patient counseling roles. Number 3099067. One study identified 6.5 adverse events related to medication use per 100 inpatient admissions; more than one fourth of these events were due to errors and were therefore preventable.2 Among serious medication errors, about one third occur at the ordering stage of the medication process, another third occur during medication administration, and the rema… Any discrepancies, such as incorrect medications or broken pills, will result in an error report. “We need to stay abreast of what is coming out and get involved with technology at the development phase,” said Aungst. Fortunately, technological advances are improving this industry, just as tech is improving other aspects of healthcare. Aungst pointed out that pharmacists do not develop many of today’s apps, websites, and programs. One such service is the telepharmacy, which brings pharmacy services to the internet. Pharmacists will be relied upon to answer the really “hard” questions that patients can’t quickly google or look up the answers to, Aungst noted. “We can use technology to leverage our services and functions when it comes to provider status, and I could envision that as a changing nature of our profession,” said Aungst. We strongly believe that only digital health can bring healthcare into the 21st century and make patients the point-of-care. This makes it important for the pharmacy to identify how customers are finding them, why individuals are choosing them over other pharmacies, and what the business can do to improve its brand. He noted that companies that produce medication adherence apps may not even involve a pharmacist or have one on the clinical staff. Best-in-class events, experts and engagement for delivering innovative and compliant meetings and promotional programs. acquisition of new tasks by hospital pharmacist. “If we don’t, everyone else will make the technology without pharmacist input. What They Do: Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions.. Work Environment: Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in drug, general merchandise, and grocery stores.Pharmacists also work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. As innovations in life sciences and new technology disrupt the health care value chain, consumers are increasingly focused on well-being, demanding greater health care access, convenience, and customized products. Aungst noted that pharmacists need to jump in and take the reins in terms of clinical content when it comes to developing tools for patients and providers. Technology is helping pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals emerge from the functional "silos" that make it difficult for them to communicate with each other, according to Michele Vilaret, Director of Telecommunications Standards for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. However, at the end of the movie, Mr. Bucket is rehired to take care of the robot. The efficiency of workflow is especially important in a pharmacy, where customers may only have a limited time to wait for service. Aungst used the example of Uber’s rise to success to demonstrate the danger of becoming complacent. In addition to answering drug information queries, InpharmD collates information from accurate resources to speed up topic searching. We cannot be complacent with current practice, but rather question how can we get better,” he said in an interview with Pharmacy Today. In this environment, exciting opportunities emerge for … Technology: Will it help or hurt the future of pharmacy practice? Faxed and emailed patient census data, neither of which are … Some systems require the techs to check off boxes to ensure each prescription has been verified, increasing efficiency with a simpler system. InpharmD, developed by Ashish Advani, PharmD, professor at Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy, is the first iPhone app to offer customized drug information. “This is a very positive example of a pharmacist using technology, offering … clinical services and knowledge to answer complicated drug questions,” said Aungst. When Walmart announced an initiative in March 2017 allowing patients to fill prescriptions via its mobile app and providing express pickup service for medications, the conversation around technology in pharmacies made headline news. “We are in a good position to seize the initiative and use technology to take us places we couldn’t before.”, He noted that when used correctly, technology could lead to improved patient care. The future of pharmacy has been an ongoing discussion for some years. Student pharmacists and practicing pharmacists need to keep an eye out for opportunities where technologies can be incorporated into pharmacy practice. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) recently surveyed a sample of community pharmacists, finding that 58% consider theft and fraud to be “a serious problem.” All too often, prescription drug inventory management systems and workflow processes lack truly comprehensive security or real-time inventory tracking.Prescription drug security is not simply an issue of lost inventory or fraud, it is also a serious safety concern. Pharmacy technicians must have a wide range of technical skills and specialized knowledge to carry out their duties. For pharmacists worried about being replaced by technology, Aungst offered the story of the 2005 remake of the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Apps for adherence. Real-time visibility into patient status. “Technology offers hospital pharmacists the ability to counsel more patients, have a greater visibility on hospital floors, and expand clinical roles, but only if we are willing to take a leap of faith and embrace change,” said Timothy Dy Aungst, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy at MCPHS Un… From automation that can fill prescriptions to apps that provide drug information, there is a fear that technology may one day replace many of the hospital pharmacist’s and hospital pharmacy technician’s functions. Technology similar to the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), in use at hospitals provides digital images that make it easier for the tech and pharmacist to verify the prescription. Additionally, when a business is more in touch with its present and potential customers, the more chance it has to build a strong customer loyalty base. Technology advances in pharmacy include innovations that improve medication safety, efficiency, and patient compliance. Understanding Pharmacy Technology. program, pharmacists seeking an advanced position, such as a clinical pharmacy or research job, may need to complete a one- to two-year residency. Ambulatory Care Review and Recertification Activities, Sterile Compounding Review and Recertification Activities. “Could someone do the same for pharmacy?”, Today, there are many machines on the market capable of filling prescriptions and checking medications. While this process was once very time-consuming, modern technology has made it easier and faster to process a prescription. Technology systems also provide a place to document pharmacy activities that improve patient care across the health system. by Ayers Career College on October 15th, 2019 in Articles Career Training News Pharmacy Tech Training. The bar codes also make it easier to confirm that the right product has been delivered, stored, retrieved and dispensed to customers. They can help improve patient safety by potentially reducing medication errors. Although this could eliminate a patient’s trip to the community pharmacist, a medication identification app could have a positive influence during the hospital admission medication reconciliation process. “Imagine if a nurse calls the hospital pharmacy to ask where a patient’s medication is,” Aungst told Today. This means that pharmacists are in an excellent position to not only play a more primary role in treating illness, but also in preventive care. Pharmacists are already using IT systems to support their daily work and, when considering the IT requirements for emerging working practices, pharmacists should consider what functions could be provided by systems that they already use. New systems are enabling pharmacies to provide better resources to their employees, which means customers can benefit from improved service. The pills are poured onto a tray and examined by the machine for accuracy. Don't miss out on all the great benefits an APhA membership has to offer. Not all patients can or need medication therapy monitoring by pharmacists. They can track patient histories to get a clearer picture of their current state of health. While pharmacies strive for efficiency, they also have to take the time to ensure that every patient is receiving the right medication in the prescribed dosages. © Copyright 2021, American Pharmacists Association All Rights Reserved. According to the company’s website, the service has more than 20,000 scientific journals, more than 20 million scientific articles, and several other resources. In two recent articles, Trupti Sarang lent her expertise as a clinical pharmacist. How can pharmacists retain relevance in this brave new world? 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